Snow causes me to have meltdowns because of the thought of waiting in the bus stop in the freezing cold for ages for the bus. In spring, summer and autumn it's always on time, whatever the weather, but in winter weather (snow and ice), it just does not turn up at all. All the other buses do though, except the one I need to get for work. I phoned up the company. Here is the little conversation I had with the receptionist:-
Me: The 133 hasn't turned up, and there's hardly any snow here. So what's happened?
Receptionist: Well it's snowing really heavy where the bus depot is, so it's probably held up in the snow, but it is on it's way to it's destination
Me: But I've been waiting here over 45 minutes, and the other buses have come by
Receptionist: Oh but it is advisory not to come out when there's poor weather conditions
Me: But it was only snowing a tiny bit here where I live, so I thought it'd be OK to come out. How would I know if it's snowing or not somewhere else? I'm not staying indoors all winter just because it might be snowing near the depot, which seems to be miles away from where the company is actually based
(The receptionist went quiet)
This is what I get in the snow - the bus service doesn't run properly, even in sleet, and I don't like staying in all day - especially if it might keep snowing bad on and off for weeks. And I don't like going out in it because I don't like slipping over on ice. And the schools all close at the drop of a hat, so there are kids and teenagers roaming about in the snow - and I hope you know by my other posts that kids + snow = nuisance for me. This is because they'll see me coming, and 8 times out of 10 they will throw a snowball at me, or try to push me down or something (kids get the better of me without snow, so I know what it will be like in snow, especially if you have to walk through a big gang of teenagers).
And I am afraid of slipping on ice in front of people. It's no good saying, ''anyone can slip - not just you,'' because that doesn't seem true to me. Because I'm more clumsy than others, I am more prone to slipping, and also because I get embarrassed easily, it just makes me slip even more, because I stiffen up. When you slip right over, it does draw attention to you, and once I even had two grown-ups literally pointing and laughing at me. I felt so upset and embarrassed. And I watched them walk where I slipped, and they weren't slipping at all.
OK, I'm waffling on here again, but you get the point as to why I have meltdowns when snow is forecasted. The meltdowns aren't the snow itself - it's all the anxieties it causes me, and I can't just get on with my routine. So the problem goes round and round in circles, with a vast explaination for everything, which is what causes the meltdown. And the thought of the Gulf Stream slowing down and leaving Britain to have long, cold, dark winters and short, cool summers might drive me into an early grave (hopefully not literally). God, I wish I lived in India!
02 Sep 2010, 11:09 am
